A new part of the hospital staffing complaint process is now in effect.
Under state law, complaints about hospital staffing plans can now reach the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I).
Hospital Staffing Committees have 60 days to review a complaint and come to a decision. A health care worker can then file a complaint with the state Department of Health. DOH refers labor-related issues to L&I. There are additional timelines for L&I to review a complaint and for a hospital to develop a corrective plan if necessary.
L&I’s Healthcare Labor Standards (HLS) Program webpage includes information on hospital staffing as well as meal and rest break and mandatory overtime requirements. Reference materials are also available on our website, including:
The DOH website also includes information on hospital staffing.
Why this is happening now?
Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5236, a law passed in 2023, clarified labor standards and enforcement for health care workers. It focused on overtime and uninterrupted meal and rest breaks. It also involved staffing plans. Key elements of the law took effect July 1.
DOH and L&I partner in overseeing the legislation. L&I established its Healthcare Labor Standards Program to help meet these new legislative requirements.
Questions about hospital staffing implementation, or other issues regarding labor standards and their enforcement for health care workers, can be sent to Healthcarelaborstandards@Lni.wa.gov, and more process and resources are available at Lni.wa.gov/HLS. (Gena Cooper)